Xlex
23/10/2003, 2:25 PM
Sav backs old club
Bristol Rovers midfielder Dave Savage will cheering on his old club Longford Town in the FAI Cup final on Sunday and the 30-year-old admits the Midlanders have come a long way since he played at the Strokestown Road venue.
Savage spent two years with Longford before signing for Millwall in 1994 and he played in the same Town team as current Longford manager Alan Matthews.
The midfielder has spent time at Millwall, Northampton, Oxford and Bristol since leaving the Midlanders and he admits that the club have a far more professional attitude these days.
"We were Rag-ball Rovers when I was there. It did get more disciplined when Dermot Keely took over but it was still a million miles away from what they are like now," admitted Savage.
"I speak to Alan regularly and the set-up and the crowds they are getting now are incredible compared to how things were when I was there," he added.
Speaking on Longford’s chances of capturing their first major honour, Savage believes that they can overturn the League Cup final defeat against the same opposition, St Patrick’s Athletic.
"Longford is known for other sports more than football so it has been some achievement to reach two Cup finals. They may have lost the League Cup but I hope they can make up for it on Sunday."
Bristol Rovers midfielder Dave Savage will cheering on his old club Longford Town in the FAI Cup final on Sunday and the 30-year-old admits the Midlanders have come a long way since he played at the Strokestown Road venue.
Savage spent two years with Longford before signing for Millwall in 1994 and he played in the same Town team as current Longford manager Alan Matthews.
The midfielder has spent time at Millwall, Northampton, Oxford and Bristol since leaving the Midlanders and he admits that the club have a far more professional attitude these days.
"We were Rag-ball Rovers when I was there. It did get more disciplined when Dermot Keely took over but it was still a million miles away from what they are like now," admitted Savage.
"I speak to Alan regularly and the set-up and the crowds they are getting now are incredible compared to how things were when I was there," he added.
Speaking on Longford’s chances of capturing their first major honour, Savage believes that they can overturn the League Cup final defeat against the same opposition, St Patrick’s Athletic.
"Longford is known for other sports more than football so it has been some achievement to reach two Cup finals. They may have lost the League Cup but I hope they can make up for it on Sunday."